Rep. Matt Gaetz said Monday that he’s been consulting with former President Donald Trump as he looks to oust Speaker Kevin McCarthy, adding a new layer of intrigue to the affair that could derail the GOP’s agenda in Washington.
Rep. Matt Gaetz said Monday that he’s been consulting with former President Donald Trump as he looks to oust Speaker Kevin McCarthy, adding a new layer of intrigue to the affair that could derail the GOP’s agenda in Washington.
Mr. McCarthy traded barbs with Mr. Gaetz, a Florida Republican who has said he intends to move to “vacate” the speakership, calling a vote this week that could eject Mr. McCarthy from the House’s top post.
The speaker accused Mr. Gaetz of trying to win over Democrats to his cause by offering them a power-sharing arrangement that would give them the ability to issue their own subpoenas.
“Matt has been going to Democrats and offering them subpoena power, which will just destroy any Biden impeachment inquiry,” Mr. McCarthy, California Republican, said on Fox News. “And I just don’t think that’s good for the House. I don’t think it’s good for the country. And what my point is, bring it on, let’s get it over with let’s get this over.”
Mr. Gaetz took to the House floor to accuse the speaker of trying to cut a side deal with Democrats to vote on legislation to fund U.S. support for Ukraine’s war with Russia in exchange for Democrats supporting a stopgap bill that kept the government from shutting down Sunday.
“It is going to be difficult for my Republican friends to keep calling President Biden feeble, while he continues to take Speaker McCarthy’s lunch money, and every negotiation,” Mr.
